How long do points stay on your licence?

When people are caught speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, jumping traffic lights etc, their licence are endorsed with penalty points. What many people know is that after 2 years of driving and accumulating 12 points, they will be disqualified from driving. If you get 6 points within the first two years of passing your driving test, then you will be banned from driving as well. The real question though is how long will these points stay on your licence for?

There are many different reasons as to why you would have penalty points on your licence and depending on why they were endorsed, they can be on your licence for a period between 4 -11 years.

Depending of the severity of the offence, penalty points scale from one to eleven. Here's a guide to show you how long points can stay on your licence in regards to the motoring crime committed:

• Drink driving and drugs, death caused by careless driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol, causing death by careless driving then failing to provide a specimen for analysis. These convictions must stay on your licence for 11 years from the date of conviction.
• Reckless/dangerous driving, offences resulting in disqualification, disqualified from holding a full driving licence until driving test has been passed. These convictions must stay on your licence for 4 years from the date of conviction.
• For all other cases, penalty points can be removed 4 years from date of offence.

Removing expired endorsements from your driving licence

Contrary to what many people believe, you cannot have endorsements removed before the stated period described above even if you are willing to pay for it. Once the period for the penalty points have elapsed, you can apply to have them removed from your licence. All you have to do is:

• Get a D1 application form from the Post Office or online through the DVLA website and fill it in.
• Enclose your photocard and paper counterpart with the correct fee.
• The DVLA will then exchange your licence for a new one minus the endorsements.

To avoid all this hassle, here's a simple suggestion - don’t get caught and don't do illegal things!